Tires are unarguably the most important component of a vehicle. They are partially responsible for making the car move, stop and steer. Still, we fail to understand the basic engineering and material science that goes into making them. 

There are various types of tires which serve different purposes. Such as summer tires are used in the cars in the summer season, winter tires are used in the winter season. However, all-season tires propose that they can be used all throughout the year. But, is it so?

In this article, we will lay a detailed discussion on whether all-season tires are good to be used in winters or not? But, if you are looking to buy the best all-season tires then you should check this article.

What are all-season tires?

All-season tires, as the name suggests, can be used throughout the year, through any season. It saves the car owner from the headache of changing tires following every season change. That is definitely one big boon of using them.

However, the all-season tires are not designed for the areas where continual snowing takes place and which have low temperatures as their forte.

Are all-season tires good to be used in winters?

 All-season tires ensure safe driving for almost all types of weather, however, when it comes to winter, winter tires tend to provide better traction as they are specifically designed for severe winter conditions. 

One can say that all-season tires are good for round the year performance for the people living in a moderate climate where they do not encounter extreme cold, ice or snow in the winter.

All season tires are designed to:

1. Reduce noise
2. Roll easily providing better fuel economy
3. Provides smooth driving comfort

Why cannot all-season tires handle the winter weather?

While the name ‘all-season tires’ gives an impression that it can be used in all weather conditions or seasons, they actually fail to perform in cold winter conditions and also in urban areas because the tread isn’t designed to handle slush and snow. This is because the rubber compound used in the tires is not designed to handle temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius.

All season tires are designed to achieve drive comfort and long tread life. During winter, when temperatures fall down to 7 degrees or less, it becomes difficult to have a good grip on the road while driving and applying brakes become quite difficult. In such scenarios, all-season tires fail to provide safety.

• If you look deep into the tire tread pattern you will notice that the grooves between the tread blocks are thin thus making it difficult to push away snow especially heavy, hard-packed snow or slush.

• Instead, on all-season tires, snow and slush clog the grooves preventing the tires from getting proper contact patch with the road and fails to maintain proper stability and making it unsafe for driving.

• During many tests conducted by various tire manufacturing companies or car enthusiasts, it has been proved that all-season tires in conditions that are hard to handle fail to prove their ability to give proper driving comfort, stability or safety.

On the other hand, all-season tires are the best bet when it comes to summer or places where it does not involve heavy cold, snow or stiffness. They will not wear or tear quickly, they provide good road grip on a smooth surface and also roll easily with pleasure.

Disadvantages of using All season tires in winter:

• Do not provide traction on snowy roads:

 Designing tires is an exercise in compromises. Improving one performance factor almost always means diminishing one or more others. Engineers responsible for all-season tires sacrifice traction on snowy roads for better steering in snow and in semi freezing temperatures. They use materials that are flexible at low temperatures but loosen the grip on the road when it is wet.

• Winter tires are a much better option:

All season tires are great for mild weather conditions. However, they are equally bad for cold winters and snowy areas.  Instead of using all-season tires, people can consider using winter tires for the winter season. The winter tires are made up of flexible rubber which helps them perform without breaking and cracking in freezing temperatures. Plus their deep tread makes them safe to be used in the snow. 

• Does not provide a good grip while applying brakes:

All-season tires do not provide a good grip in the snow while applying brakes. As a result of which, accidents might happen. The tires are not flexible enough to even create a tread pattern or to push the snow away from their path.  

The Final Verdict: 

So to conclude if you are looking for a smooth drive on a daily basis or a ride and also not in the place where extreme weather condition prevails or natural calamities are a concern, your best buy should be all-season tires as they are made to give you comfort and not a nightmare. 

They enable you to have a versatile performance to expect in a variety of weather conditions like wet roads, light winter driving or on city roads and are also pocket-friendly with a good duration of last. 

All-Season tires can go up to 25,000 to 30,000 km if maintained properly and checked on a timely basis and also driven on smooth surfaces as much as possible.

Furthermore, tires play a technical role in a car so it is always advisable to have proper tires for all the weather conditions as one particular type cannot suffice all.